46. loxia. 439 



In the nest the whole of the upper plumage is browner, this tint 

 disappearing gradually after the birds have flown. 



After the first moult the tints of the male become more orange and 

 uniform, but the flanks are striped, and there are more or less remains 

 of striped feathers about the other portions of the body, these being 

 part of the first plumage. A specimen shot by Mr. Wheelwright in 

 November is in this stage. 



In the Gould collection was a very fine series of Crossbills pro- 

 cured by the late Henry Wheelwright, and showing all the stages of 

 plumage, conclusively proving that the bright colour of the male is 

 gradually assumed, and that it takes two, or even three, moults before 

 the full red plumage is gained. 



The plumage of the female is assumed without any marked pro- 

 gression of changes. After the first moult the colour is very like 

 that of the fully adult bird, but is duller and greener, as well as 

 being mottled with dusky centres to the feathers on the upper 

 surface, while there are still plentiful broad streaks of dusky brown 

 on the under surface and especially on the flanks. At least two 

 moults take place before the full plumage is attained. 



A series of males of L. curvirostra in the Museum have the culmen 

 0-7-0*85 inch and the wing 3- 7-4-05. Females measure 0-6-0-8 

 inch in the culmen and 3-65-3-8 inches in the wing. Japanese 

 birds, which might be expected to approach L. americana, have the 

 culmen 0-7-0-75 and the wing 3-6-3-7 inches. 



The series of American Crossbills (L. americana) measures as 

 follows : — Males have the culmen - 7 and the wing 3-55-3-8 inches. 

 Females have the culmen 0-65-0-8 and the wing 3-55-3-7 inches. 



Examples from New Brunswick have the culmen only 0-6 and 

 the wing 3-2-3-3 inches, and belong apparently to the small race 

 described and figured by Mr. Bidgway in the ' History of North- 

 American Birds.' 



Males of L. mexicana (L. stricMandi, Bidgw.) have the culmen 

 0*75-0-8 and the wing 3-85-4-1 inches. The female measures : — 

 culmen 0-75, wing 3-65 inches. 



Males of L. himalayana have the culmen 0-55-0-7 and the wing 

 from 3-2 to 3-55 inches. The females measure : — culmen 0-6-0-65 

 and the wing 3-15-3-3 inches. 



From the above measurements it appears that there is no hard- 

 and-fast line to be drawn from the measurements of the Crossbills, 

 every form of which appears to grade into another. I have kept 

 the specimens under distinct headings for the sake of convenience ; 

 but I do not consider the different forms to be worthy even of 

 subspecific rank. 



The largest form of Crossbill is that known as Loxia pytio- 

 psittacus, or the Parrot Crossbill, which has often a bill twice as 

 stout as that of L. curvirostra. Total length 6-5 inches, culmen 

 0-85-0-9, wing 3-9, tail 2-25-2-45, tarsus 0-7-0-8. 



Ha*>. The greater part of Europe and Northern Asia, to Japan 

 and North China. Himalayas. North America as far as Mexico. 



